The Waterbox 220 gallon reef tank.
It's been a while since we checked up on this guy.
I've been seeing y'all in the comments
talking about how it's supposedly completely empty.
But look, guys, it's not
It's definitely not empty, no
This tank has been running for about a year now,
well, close to it at least
I've had a few setbacks here
and there, which I will get into later, but it's been doing really well
and clearly there is a lot that I need to update you on.
We have quite a few new fish additions
in the tank, and you know what, y'all it turns out I really loved fish all along.
You see, I've never been a fish person to me.
It's always been about the corals,
you know,
testing the water for the corals,
dosing for the corals,
collecting all of the corals.
Corals are the reason that I've been hooked on this hobby since the beginning.
So any fish that I kept were well,
kind of like poop machines in my eyes
and only ever kept enough poop machines
to keep nutrients and bioload up for my corals.
But y'all.
Tell me why I'm obsessed with fish now.
You guys were totally right.
Fish are equally as awesome as the corals.
And I think I'm only coming around to realizing that since I started this 220 gallon
and I'm able to keep way more cool and interesting large fishies because up
to now, the only tanks I've had have been really small.
I mean, I started with a small Bio Cube 29 gallon and then worked my way up
to a small 40 gallon,
but that's been it
just small tanks,
meaning no fish options,
meaning not much love for the poop machines.
But like I said,
I have been sleeping because these new fish have grown on me and I'm super
excited to introduce you to them.
Even started naming them.
I mean, come on, this is Joseppi, my new yellow foxface, and I adore this fish.
He eats well and no nipping at coral whatsoever, which is good.
He's really shy and timid, and he is the best of friends with the Tomini Tang.
They eat together, they swim together, they even sleep next to each other.
It is the cutest.
I got them both at my local fish store, AquaStudios.
So if you're ever in The Colony here
in Texas definitely go check them out because I got these fish so fat and happy
and they're getting fatter and happier with each day.
Wasn't initially looking at adding
the tomini tang, but fell in love with this little guy at the store.
They're really great at scavenging
and clean up the algae on the rocks and even the glass.
I mean, I love a pretty fish
that doubles as a great janitor, so the decision was pretty obvious.
And it doesn't help that I love saying tomini tang.
Oh, tomini tang
Oh tomini tang
Tomini tang tomini tang
I'm weird. I know.
And my dream fish since I ever started wanting to keep a reef tank.
Yes, I am basic.
Yes, I got a blue tang.
It's the quintessential
I just got my first large reef aquarium fish.
Y'all, can you blame me?
I mean Dory,
and finding Nemo aside, this is one beautiful specimen of a blue tang.
He swims around the tank and he looks like he's hopping around.
It's just absolutely adorable.
Got this little guy pre-quarantined.
So I waited for about a month or so
for him to arrive and it was well worth the weight.
He's very healthy, eating well,
and he's not a bully to any of the others, which was something I was really worried
about considering he was one of the first new additions I added
The only other time fish seemed to scorn in him is during feeding time.
He is so fast y'all
he just zooms in and grabs,
zooms in and grabs the mysis.
He is just such a fast swimmer.
But this new guy here does not put up with that.
Although royal grammas are typically
a bit shy in nature, this one,
this one is far from it.
He is quite the feisty fish.
An out and about fish definitely likes
to swim around more than other royal grammas I've seen.
I mean, just look at those colors.
Royal grammas don't get nearly enough credit for that, honestly.
And also added these two wee ones.
My dear Reef Mama decided to call them dumb and dumber.
And I'll tell you, the name surely fits.
The name definitely fits.
I got two Bangaii Cardinal fish in the tank
and they are
yeah, they really are dumb and dumber.
They're definitely not the smartest fish in the tank.
They just kind of sit there and stare.
They don't really do much, but they're really cute.
I've always really liked them for that fact.
It's like they're just not really there
at all, like the goldfish of the saltwater world.
And in my previous video I showed you all that.
I added two basic ocellaris clownfish, and I have some unfortunate news.
We had a jumper early on and I was left
with only one of these guys for a really long time.
It's a huge bummer to have that happen,
but couldn't leave that clownfish all alone though.
So I did move over Holstein from the 40 gallon
and they are an adorable pair together.
I think it's really odd that they were
able to kind of recognize each other, I guess, but they sure did pretty much
instantly too, because Holstein was such a big girl when I moved her in.
They've even made a little nest together and they're still waiting to find their
new anemone home,
which is on the other side of the tank,
but they can't seem to find it.
Also moved over Goby from the 40 gallon as well.
He found his little rock cave somewhere in this general area.
It's kind of difficult to spot him other than feeding time.
Because goby is a fat pig, but hey,
he is not really loving the new tank as much as Holstein the clownfish.
He doesn't really value swimming space as much as he values deep caves.
So I essentially never see him, really,
because he's this tiny little dot in this monstrosity of an aquarium.
But yeah, couldn't leave out the Gobes.
As a newbie to fish keeping,
I've had some interesting hurdles with these guys.
Specifically the different feeding required for these new fish.
I've never had a fish that specifically required algae in their diet.
The tangs and the foxface graze on the algae on my rocks and sand,
sure, but definitely not enough algae to sustain their sophisticated palates.
Y'all
I have busted out the seaweed clip so many times now with no success.
These fish, they never seem to find it.
Then the powerheads break it all up
and blow it all over and then it's just an absolute mess.
Prior to adding these fish,
I was feeding meaty frozen foods like Mysis, but I recently switched to this
herbivore blend from Rod's food and the fish love it so far
The tomini tang and the foxface really enjoy the algae,
I mean, they gobble it all up, but the blue tang definitely prefers
the mysis and the meaty bits, and I'm starting to get really worried
about getting the blue tang's diet in shape before he becomes a little fatty.
This algae clip situation needs to be sorted.
If anyone has any suggestions about algae
clip methods, please let me know in the comments.
I never thought I would ask that because
this is really not something I anticipated having difficulties with.
But seriously, why can they not find the algae clip?
It's driving me nuts.
I definitely want to add more fish down the road, but I do want to wait a bit
longer until my corals grow in to create more hiding spots for the fish.
I would like to add a few wrasses,
maybe one or two wrasses, and definitely a school of anthias.
The movement and the color of the anthias would add so much life to the tanks.
I'm pretty excited for when I can start adding them.
I haven't thought far enough ahead
to decide on what particular kind of fish I want to get yet just kind of taking it
as it goes and enjoying the fish that I have added.
But yes, I have officially converted.
I am now a fish person.
I love the fish.
I realized that a reef tank doesn't really come to life without them.
You guys were so right.
They bring so much movement and life
into the tank, and I'm so in love with their individual personalities.
So yes, these fish are now my babies and I'm an overly attached mama.
What can I say?
Still a lot to update you guys on with this tank.
Obviously need to talk about all
of the new coral additions and my plans for my coral layout and I have a lot
of new equipment set up, which is pretty exciting.
So stay tuned for these update videos.
Coming here soon.
Just give me one year.
Y'all it's going to be a good one.